Saleh report on UPDF crash may have loopholes
Aug 27, 2012
I read Hon. Balyeku Moses statement about Gen. Salim Saleh and I was shocked to see how he perceived the outcry from the people that Gen. Saleh was not suitable for the job. Ugandans are not interested in jeopardising security of this country but are interested in knowing what led to the death of o
By Sseruwagi Habiibu
I read Hon. Balyeku Moses statement about Gen. Salim Saleh and I was shocked to see how he perceived the outcry from the people that Gen. Saleh was not suitable for the job. Ugandans are not interested in jeopardising security of this country but are interested in knowing what led to the death of our UPDF soldiers.
Issues of crashes cannot be left to Generals as you stated but they are for technocrats. The soldiers who died have relatives, friends and families and, therefore, for the inquiry commission to conceal all the findings would leave people thinking otherwise.
Crashes in western powers you gave as examples cannot hurt their economics but we as Ugandans, a crash of three helicopters hurts our economy as we shall have to buy other helicopters’ and trim the budgets of other ministries thus affecting service delivery.
We have seen American, British, Turkish and Franch troops all go for wars in different areas with fighter jets that are even very strong compared to our jets but why do you think they take them on ship and they have capacity to fly them. Peoples demand is not sidelining Gen.
Salim Saleh or any member of the UPDF fraternity because these people have done a great job in securing the peaceful environment this country is having but if we remember the past events of buying these choppers, who was involved? If these fighter planes were faulty from the time of purchase, will Ugandans be told the truth?
To my belief, I think a more independent commission headed by the judge or retired judge would have trust of many Ugandans. I commend Gen. Salim Saleh’s report on UMEME although it was not implemented but it was the best report as it reflected the will of the people of Uganda. In this report, Gen. Saleh was not part and parcel of Umeme thus a wonderful report.
I believe for government to have credible reports, the commission of inquiries should not be from within the same sector because this may result into conflict of interest. These commissions should be headed by academicians, Judges, but not politicians or businessmen or people strongly attached to political parties.
The writer can be reached on habbyshem@yahoo.com